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The Loadstar

The Loadstar is fast becoming known at the highest levels of logistics and supply chain management as one of the best sources of influential analysis and commentary.


Wednesday, February 1, 2023
CMA CGM mega-ship Marco Polo
Shipping

Cross-Alliance Cooperation on the Rise as Market Weakens

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carriers are pulling capacity from Chinese export routes and redeploying the ships to more robust tradelanes with

February 1, 2023
Total Views: 1412

Thursday, January 26, 2023
Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock.com
Shipping

MSC Continues to Strengthen Fleet for Life Outside the 2M

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – MSC is continuing to buy second-hand containerships, and does not appear to have lost its appetite for ordering

January 26, 2023
Total Views: 2166

Tuesday, January 24, 2023
European Ports Brace for Slowdown as ‘Shopping Frenzy’ Ends
Ports

European Ports Brace for Slowdown as ‘Shopping Frenzy’ Ends

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – North Europe’s container hub ports are bracing themselves for the weak January import volumes from Asia to continue

January 24, 2023
Total Views: 773

Friday, January 20, 2023
Editorial credit: Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock.com
Shipping

Matson Results Reflect Downturn in Transpacific Demand

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Transpacific container carryings from Asia to the US west coast fell sharply in last year’s fourth quarter reflecting

January 20, 2023
Total Views: 1202

Wednesday, January 18, 2023
The CMA CGM Marco Polo container ship passes under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, to enter New York Harbor. Photo: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Shipping

Cascading Tonnage Threatens Smaller Box Ships

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carriers are busy cascading bigger ships on to secondary trades in order to absorb some of their surplus tonnage

January 18, 2023
Total Views: 1746

Friday, January 13, 2023
Maersk ship entering the Port of Rotterdam. Photo: Shutterstock
Shipping

Ocean Carriers Hoping for Post-CNY Demand Surge

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carriers do not expect consumer demand in North Europe to recover until at least March, when they hope container

January 13, 2023
Total Views: 892

Thursday, January 12, 2023
The One Bright Spot in Container Shipping’s Spot Rate Downturn
Shipping

The One Bright Spot in Container Shipping’s Spot Rate Downturn

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Improved booking prospects show the Asia to Mediterranean tradelane is proving more resilient than the North European

January 12, 2023
Total Views: 1225

Friday, January 6, 2023
Maersk ship entering the Port of Rotterdam. Photo: Shutterstock
Shipping

Peak Season Surge Could Be Make or Break for Ocean Carriers

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Container spot rates from Asia to North Europe, as recorded by Drewry’s WCI index, increased by 10% this week from

January 6, 2023
Total Views: 1848

Tuesday, January 3, 2023
evergreen shipping container
Shipping

FMC Ruling Could Prove Crucial for ‘Unfair’ Detention and Demurrage Fee Complaints

By Nick Savvides (The Loadstar) – A US Federal Maritime Commission small claims officer’s (SCO) decision to uphold trucker TCW Inc’s complaint

January 3, 2023
Total Views: 1785

Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Shipping

Carriers Face the ‘Quiet Before the Storm’ for Contract Rates

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – A year ago, shippers were desperate to agree annual contract deals with ocean carriers  to secure their supply

December 27, 2022
Total Views: 2358

Thursday, December 22, 2022
Shipping

Container Shipping’s Idled Fleet Set to Soar Next Year

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Just 12 months ago, the 2009-built 4,253 teu Synergy Oakland was preparing to commence a two-month charter

December 22, 2022
Total Views: 8384

Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Shipping

Amid Container Market Turmoil, Shipping Alliances Prepare to Deploy New Megaships

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – THE Alliance members Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, Yang Ming and HMM have finalised their April network plans, which feature

December 20, 2022
Total Views: 1950

Friday, December 16, 2022
Shipping

Ocean Carriers to Increase Blank Sailings from Asia Post-Chinese New Year

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Against a background of extremely weak demand forecasts, ocean carriers are preparing to blank around half their

December 16, 2022
Total Views: 2001

Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Shipping

Crew ‘Feared for Their Safety’ During Transpacific Voyage on ‘Unseaworthy’ Containership

By Nick Savvides (The Loadstar) – Crew onboard the Zim Iberia have written to their crewing agents asking for redeployment after they

December 13, 2022
Total Views: 26499

Friday, December 9, 2022
Shipping

Transatlantic Spot Rates Tread Water as Chinese Export Rates Tumble

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Navigating the container spot rate market has become a minefield for shipper procurement managers under pressure from

December 9, 2022
Total Views: 846

Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Shipping

Sign of the Times: New World’s Largest Containership Sails Light on Maiden Voyage

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The 24,004 teu Ever Atop transited the Suez Canal over the weekend on its maiden voyage to North Europe,

December 6, 2022
Total Views: 13464

Thursday, December 1, 2022
Shipping

Could MSC Be Mulling a 2M Split?

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Since August 2020, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company brokers have completed the acquisition of nearly 250 second-hand

December 1, 2022
Total Views: 6069

Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Shipping

Maersk Revamps Network for Shipping’s ‘New Reality’

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Major Chinese export markets are showing signs of a recovery after the steep post-Golden Week holiday decline, led by a

November 29, 2022
Total Views: 1768

Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Shipping

Maersk ‘Test Case’ Could Shift Container Shipping’s Balance of Power

By Nick Savvides (The Loadstar) – Since the pandemic began, complaints of carrier misdeeds have circulated across the industry and around the globe. In

November 23, 2022
Total Views: 8699

Friday, November 18, 2022
Shipping

Carriers in ‘Panic Mode’ as China Bookings Plummet

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carriers are said to be in “panic mode” as bookings from China to North Europe and the US west coast tank,

November 18, 2022
Total Views: 26423
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